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The Charm Offensive cover art

The Charm Offensive

By: Alison Cochrun
Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Graham Halstead, Cassandra Campbell
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Summary

A 2022 Audie Award Finalist

A Most Anticipated Rom-Com Selected by * Buzzfeed * LGBTQ Reads * Bustle * the Nerd Daily * Entertainment Tonight * Frolic Media * and More!

A Best Book Pick by * Harper’s Bazaar * Entertainment Weekly

The Charm Offensive will sweep you off your feet.” (PopSugar)

​​​​In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy — reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch — an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.

Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date 20 women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

©2021 Alison Cochrun. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Romance

Critic reviews

"Adam depicts Dev as a mix of dreamy and dramatic, showing his idealistic side and his love for the show. Adam’s flowing narration smooths out the author’s occasional didacticism. Halstead voices Charlie Winshaw, the show’s star and a tech genius who suffers from OCD and generalized anxiety. Halstead accurately represents Charlie’s stilted TV performance, hesitant speech, and withdrawn manner. Cassandra Campbell delivers the daily script updates, her voice creating needed contrast among the sections. With meticulous attention to Dev and Charlie’s singular romance, Adam and Halstead paint a lively picture of reality TV." (AudioFile Magazine)

What listeners say about The Charm Offensive

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Cheesy but nice

I found the voices a little stiff and robotic and the story was sometimes predictable but it was quite charming and at points I couldn’t put it down, overall I really enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Nice for one time

I enjoyed reading about the romance but then the conflict occured and after that I found it poorly executed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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the topics of sexuality and mental health

goodness where do i start? this audiobook met my expectations and went through the roof. i loved every second of it! though personally, i think i preferred when dev’s narrator would speak during dev’s lines during charlie’s POV and vice versa, i think it’s more immersive that way. but nonetheless, for a first listen on audible, this was an amazing listen!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

cute but a tad too long

great performance and cute story but needed editing down in my opinion as the story did drag in places.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

Lovely story, Good characters ,some very likeable ,some,you just want to slap . great narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely beautiful

I had the best time listening to this audiobook! Such a fresh story and the right amount of predictable with twists and turns that keep you hooked till the very last line.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Give it a chance

Was somewhat sceptical at the beginning to see how the story would progress but getting to know the 2 lead characters, and all they are going through and how their relationship develops, it ended up in a wholesome, somewhat cliche but individual story. Would recommend for easy listening

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely Fabulous

This audiobook really spoke to me with its references of dev’s depression and charlie’s OCD.
Moreover, it didn’t really just portray OCD as the typical personality trait of needing everything ‘organised’ instead it revolves about this disorder in more detail making it more realistic. I also like how honest devs depression felt - it wasn’t just a small wave of sadness as it can be portrayed in media - instead it lasts, for a long time; as it does have a lasting impact. Ergo it showed how people can appear happy and even sometimes feel those types of emotions even with depression.
I really thank this author for this beautiful queer representation which I always feel that I am missing. This wonderful journey was absolutely fabulous,
:)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Sweet (unbelievable) story

Let yourself get carried away in this sweet gay story, you will enjoy it if you are able to suspend the disbelief.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just a lovely easy listening audio

highly recommend, even though its obvious what the ending will be that doesn't matter because its beautifully done.

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